Transport operators, Biel

Client Verkehrsbetriebe der Stadt Biel
Architects Maier Hess Architekten, Zürich
Planning 2002-2003
Execution 2003-2005
Construction cost 10 Mio. Fr.
Services Structure and excavation:
Competition
Design phase
Tender documentation phase
Execution phase
Topics CommercialIndustry/tradeRefurbishmentConcrete constructionFair faced concrete

In addition to a new administration building and the conversion of the existing workshops, the construction project included the renovation of the 1948 depot hall, made of visible reinforced concrete with slender members.

The new administration building is an elongated two-storey block with a top storey that projects some distance out from the lower storey, necessitating pre-tensioning of the ceiling slabs. Also characteristic are the fine fair-faced concrete surfaces, the formwork pattern of which was specified by the architect.

Inside the existing gabled hall, the workshops are brought together in a new cube made of reinforced concrete. The gabled hall, which was worthy of preservation, was showing signs of severe damage due to corroded steel reinforcement. The reason for this was large displacements of the reinforcement cages within the slender members. These cages were uncovered and replaced where necessary. A special mortar mix was developed in cooperation with the contractor to match the existing surfaces and was used to restore the areas where concrete had been removed.